National Football League owners have banded together to consider changing the national anthem rules next week.
The current policy requires players to stand at a “stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand and refrain from talking” during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner, but only allows for potential discipline from teams toward players failing to be on the field at that time,” according to a Sports Illustrated story. Does this infringe on their first amendment rights that allow them freedom of expression?
“?If they were imprisoned, that would be a violation of the players rights,” JayMac said. “If he chose to stage a protest by just not saying anything for 5 minutes, I would be fired. Some of you would think that was the best 5 minutes of my show ever.”
Ultimately, free speech protects us from the government.You can disagree with the tactics of the players while fully supporting their right to do it.
This arises while widespread protests from NFL players have taken over the news cycle. Many of the players kneel while the national anthem plays to show their frustration with police brutality.
If your boss tells me to sit down or stand up, you probably have to do that or else you’ll get fired. The NFL may be changing the rules so they can do just that.
Freedom of Speech does not guarantee you a job. For example, if you're working at a grocery store and share all of your political views with every customer, you can be fired. It's not a violation of your rights.
The NFL is fully within its rights. Neither side seems to be listening to the other, and there's no progress being made. There is no attempt to resolve this. There's a lot of discussions to be had hear, but everybody ran to their sides. If you don't like what the players are doing, don't watch. This is not ground for the president, and again, this was fading away.
What about players who did Duck, Duck, Goose during an end zone celebration?
In a Vikings vs. Bear games, the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown with a round of Duck, Duck, Goose. Seriously. Players sat down in the middle of the field in a circle while someone went around the circle as they chose the goose to follow them. That should be a rule. No Duck, Duck, Goose in the end zone.
What about tax breaks and the NFL?
Speaking of the NFL, Trump Tweeted, "Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!"
But that's based on a misnomer. It's not true. The NFL is not tax exempt. For years the NFL did operate under a tax-free status, but this status only applied to the league office, and the NFL gave up the exemption in 2015. The teams themselves have always paid full taxes on all team revenue. Teams do get an exemption from states and municipalities.
How does Mike Pence tie into this?
Vice President Mike Pence unnecessarily protested protesting as he walked out of an National Football League game when players knelt in protest during the National Anthem.
Pence pulled a Donald Trump. This issue almost died and somehow the Trump administration revived it again. (Can we please talk about something else?)
As the National Anthem began at a San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts NFL game at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana, 12 members of the 49ers team knelt down in protest as the rest of the stadium put their hands over their hearts. (All of the Colts players stood for the anthem.) That’s when Mike Pence and his wife walked out of the stadium, protesting the player's protests.
There is no way that Pence didn't plan to walk out. You know that. I know that. This is what the presidency thinks of you--that you'd fall for this political stunt--or political football, if you will.
This was obviously a staged and poorly executed by the Vice President. If you remember, all of this started a year ago when the 49er's player Colin Kaepernick kneeled in protest. (He's since been fired.) Pence went to the very team where all of this began.
The White House released a statement, saying, "I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem. At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem. I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem."
Pence also took to Twitter and tweeted photo of him and his wife, Karen Pence, standing patriotically with their hands over their hearts as the National Anthem played, saying "We were proud to stand — with all our Colts — for our soldiers, our flag, and our National Anthem."
President Donald Trump joined in the conversation on social media, saying, "I asked [Vice President Pence] to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and [Second Lady] Karen."
This is protest was designed to create anger, not to unify nor to lead the country. This is the public's money and time to distract the American people from the terrible job that the Trump administration is doing.
"I thought President Trump promised that he was going to drain the swamp," said Jay. "I thought Trump and Pence wouldn’t play these political games, but this walkout is politics as usual and this type of politics frustrates me."
Ultimately, the issue comes down to misuse of taxpayer money. According to White House reporter, Kevin Liptak, Air Force Two costs $42,936/hour fly and "Pence flew 2.5 hours from Vegas to Indianapolis and then flew back to LA.... Cost now (likely due to lower fuel price) is closer to $30k, per Air Force." He "estimated Pence’s trip to Indianapolis took about two and a half hours flying time, each way. That would put the flight’s cost well over $200,000," according to MarketWatch.com.
Jeff Caplan is the host of KSL Newsradio’s Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News. You can hear his show every weekday from 3-7 p.m.
The JayMac News Show is hosted by KSL NewsRadio's Jay McFarland, who also hosts the fictional podcast, Hosts of Eden. KSL NewsRadio is part of Bonneville Media and based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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